Ex-chargers GM Telesco lands with Raiders
By The Associated Press
The Las Vegas Raiders hired Tom Telesco on Tuesday as their next general manager, passing over interim Champ Kelly for the position.
Kelly could remain as the assistant general manager, the position he held under Dave Ziegler, who was fired Oct. 31. Kelly then was given the interim title and was believed to be a strong candidate to get the job full time.
Telesco, 51, comes from the AFC West rival Chargers, where he was the general manager since 2013. The Chargers fired Telesco and coach Brandon Staley on Dec. 15, a day after the team lost 63-21 at Las Vegas.
Telesco drafted eight Pro Bowl players, including quarterback Justin Herbert, wide receiver Keenan Allen and defensive end Joey Bosa. But the Chargers went 86-95 during his tenure, making the playoffs three times and never winning a divisional title.
He hired three first-year coaches, so going to the Raiders will be familiar in that way for Telesco. Antonio Pierce had the interim title removed Friday, making him the fulltime coach.
Telesco’s top priority will be deciding what to do at quarterback. Rookie Aidan O’connell became the starter when Pierce took over, and though he led the Raiders to a 5-4 record over that time, his inconsistency created real doubts that he was the franchise quarterback.
The Raiders pick 13th in this year’s draft, which likely puts them outside the range of getting a top quarterback unless they trade up. Las Vegas also could stay put and perhaps select Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. if he’s still on the draft board.
TITANS GO WITH CALLAHAN >>
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Tennessee Titans hired Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan as their head coach, tasked with trying to turn them back into winners and groom Will Levis into their franchise quarterback.
Callahan replaces Mike Vrabel, fired on Jan. 9 after six seasons with losses in 18 of his final 24 games.
Callahan will be the franchise’s sixth different coach since leaving Texas for Tennessee in 1997. He also is the third coach hired since the NFL regular season ended Jan. 7.
Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris met again with the Atlanta Falcons about their head coaching job, joining Bill Belichick in receiving a follow-up interview.
Morris was among several candidates expected to receive a second interview from the Falcons. That includes University of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, who is exploring a return to the NFL after leading the Wolverines to a national championship.
■ Joe Barry is out as the Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator after a turbulent third season on the job that ended with a loss in the NFC divisional round of the playoffs.
Green Bay ranked 10th in points allowed per game (20.6), 17th in yards allowed per game (335.1) and 23rd in yards allowed per play (5.4) during the regular season with a defense featuring eight former first-round draft picks.
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That included a brutal three-game stretch late in the season as the Packers allowed 29.3 points per game while going 1-2 against the Giants, Buccaneers and Panthers.
■ The Miami Dolphins and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio have mutually agreed to part ways after just one season.
Fangio led the Dolphins’ defense to a No. 10 finish in 2023, allowing 318.3 yards per game. It was the first time Miami finished a season with a top-10 defense since 2010.
Fangio served as a consultant for the Philadelphia Eagles for the last half of the 2022 season and is expected to be a top candidate for their vacant defensive coordinator position.
Detroit Lions tight end Zach Ertz practiced with his new team Wednesday, potentially making the three-time Pro Bowl player available for the NFC Championship Game on Sunday in San Francisco.
The 33-year-old Ertz agreed to a deal with Detroit earlier this week to add much-needed depth.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said he isn’t sure how quickly Ertz can get up to speed to possibly be in the lineup against the 49ers.
“I know he’s in shape,” Campbell said. “I talked to him the other day. He understands we’re just going to gauge this and see where we’re at.”
Record-breaking rookie tight end Sam Laporta had only one player, Anthony Firkser, behind him on the depth chart before Ertz agreed to a deal. Backup tight ends Brock Wright and James Mitchell have been injured in each of the past two games.
Ertz had an NFL single-season record for catches by a tight end with 116 during the 2018 season.
LIONS GET A LOOK AT ERTZ >>